742 THAXTER. 



On Ephydridae. 



Stigmatomyees excavatus nov. sp. 



Straight, flexed, or slightly sigmoid ; becoming pale yellowish above 

 the hyaline, thick-walled receptacle; which is short and stout, taper- 

 ing slightly from the distal end to the base, the subbasal cell usually 

 slightly less than twice as long as the basal, which is rounded above the 

 small foot, the septum slightly oblique. Stalk-cell of the appendage 

 relatively broad, overlapping the subbasal cell, and forming a rounded 

 prominence, distally and externally, extending above the small reddish 

 brown basal cell of the appendage, which thus lies at the bottom of a 

 socket. Appendage long, slender, attenuated; usually straight, with 

 the antheridia external, or sometimes lateral. Axis of the appendage 

 consisting of more often seven cells, those above the basal hyaline, 

 flattened-triangular; the seventh bearing a single antheridium, the 

 rest two, or the lower more than two; the rest of the appendage 

 slightly curved, attenuated, and consisting of two to three superposed 

 antheridia; antheridial necks short, stout and curved. Stalk-cell 

 subtriangular, rather abruptly slightly broader than the receptacle 

 externally, and separated by an oblique septum; the secondary 

 stalk-cell slightly smaller, separated by a curved oblique septum, 

 hardly larger than the basal cells above. The venter three to four 

 times as long as broad, its base slightly narrower than the basal cell 

 region, gradually broadening distally, usually abruptly broader below 

 the neck ; which is nearly as long, tapering from its broad base to the 

 tip, which is hardly distinguished by a slight depression; the tip 

 slightly inflated and tapering, twice as long as the apex, which is sub- 

 truncate and bent inward, but not otherwise distinguished. Spores- 

 about 25X3/X. Perithecia 140-200 X 20-28 m; stalk- and basal 

 cell region 35 X 22 /jl. Receptacle 80 X 25 /x. Appendage 70-95 X 

 7 m; its stalk-cell 35-45 X 10-15 m- Total length 280-335 m or less. 



On superior surface of abdomen of an ephydrid allied to Xotiphila. 

 No. 2637a. Kamerun, West Africa. 



This species is clearly distinguished by its short stout receptacle, 

 long slender and tapering perithecium and appendage, and especially 

 by the protrusion of the stalk-cell of the appendage, which forms a 

 depression overtopping the basal cell of the appendage. 



